Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) released the following statement announcing the introduction of The State And Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation is co-led by Representatives Ruppersberger (D-MD), Thompson (D-MS), Garbarino (R-MS), McCaul (R-TX), Katko (R-NY), and Kilmer (D-WA), will authorize a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant program to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in state and local government networks.

The State And Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act will:

• Establishes a $500 million DHS grant program with a graduating cost-share that incentivizes States to increase funding for cybersecurity in their budgets;
• Requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to develop a Strategy to Improve the Cybersecurity of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments to, among other things, identify Federal resources that could be made available to State and local governments for cybersecurity purposes and set baseline objectives for State and local cybersecurity efforts.
• Requires State, Tribal, and territorial governments to develop comprehensive Cybersecurity Plans to guide the guide use of grant dollars;
• Establishes a State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee comprised representatives from State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to advise and provide situational awareness to CISA regarding the cybersecurity needs of State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; and
• Requires CISA to assess the feasibility of implementing a short-term rotational program for the detail of approved State, local, Tribal, and territorial government employees in cyber workforce positions at CISA.

“I am proud to introduce the State And Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which delivers critical resources necessary to protect government networks from cyberattacks on the state and local levels. Cybersecurity is a national security issue, and this legislation prioritizes it as such. If nothing else, the recent cyber incidents have demonstrated the dire need for bold and substantive action to defend our networks today and in the future”, said Clarke. “Cyber-and ransomware attacks against State and local agencies have increased substantially, and let me be very clear, this can not go unaddressed. The lack of resources and prioritization of preventive measures have left many state and local agencies vulnerable. Moving forward, as Chairwoman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation Subcommittee, I plan to continue introducing legislation that fortifies our cybersecurity and prioritizes preventive action.” 

The full bill text can be found here. 

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Yvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Immigration, a Senior Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and a Senior Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Media contact: Remmington Belford Remmington.belford@mail.house.gov c: 202.480.5737